Soccer player. Hip-hop dancer. Tap instructor. These are not three different people with different faces and personalities. All three embodied in one Point Park University student who is breaking down the walls that separate cliques and overcoming the struggles of living a balanced and organized life.Kileigh Williams, a sophomore forensic science major, decided to attend Point Park after her sister told her about the university’s dance department. Realizing the school offered everything she loved and more, Williams chose the intersection of Wood St. and Boulevard of the Allies to be the location of her college experience.”The school gives you so many opportunities for anything,” Williams said. “It kind of pushes me to want to do more and go out and try new things. I’m one of those people who is up for anything.”This characteristic is unmistakable when considering Williams’ hectic schedule which is jammed with numerous activities. As a forensic science major, she bounces back and forth between chemistry, biology labs and a demanding photography class.Aside from her academics, Williams spends the bulk of her time as a forward for the university’s women’s soccer team. As a walk-on, Williams quickly showed her teammates and her coach that her skills were more than ordinary.Liz Velez, junior goalkeeper, recognizes the devotion apparent in her fellow teammate.”She’s a hard worker and she’s really dedicated,” Velez said. “She brings speed to the team and gives 100 percent every time. She came in really prepared.”Some may find it hard to manage so many activities, but women’s soccer head Coach Mark Platts does not believe Williams has that problem.”I give her credit. She’s never missed a practice, never missed a game, never been late,” Platts said. “It hasn’t hurt her like it might hurt other athletes who aren’t as dedicated.”Williams herself sees the struggles due to her busy schedule but does not seem to mind the challenge of being an athlete and a busy student.”My favorite thing about playing soccer is not only do you get to meet all these different people but it keeps me active, it keeps me out of trouble, and it keeps me focused,” Williams said. “I have to make sure I’m on top of everything.”Soccer may play a major role in Williams’ life but her true passion, which she devotes much of her time to, is dance. As a member of Point Park’s hip-hop dance group, IMPULSE, and a tap instructor for the university’s community classes, Williams thrives in the art of movement.Since the age of three, dance has been a vital aspect of Williams’ life and character. She spent eight years of her life traveling with an off-Broadway show and, if she could, would teach dance for a living. Although she believes a career, as an instructor would not pay as well as a career in forensic science, Williams refuses to stop moving her feet.”I absolutely love dance. That’s just my passion,” Williams said. “I put a lot into it. If it left me, I’d be so lonely.”Megan Beavis, junior sport, arts and entertainment management major, is a fellow member of IMPULSE and is also Williams’ roommate. As one of her good friends, Beavis has seen firsthand the dedication Williams demonstrates in all that she does.”I’m proud of her,” Beavis said. “I’m behind her 100 percent. I think it’s really good to be involved as much as she is.”Beavis has also witnessed Williams’ role as an IMPULSE dancer and believes her to be the group’s selfless spirit.”She puts a lot of people before her,” Beavis said. “It’s usually the ‘team’ before the ‘I’.”Along with dance, Williams also experiences the worlds of acting, singing and playing guitar.”I like a lot of things and I’m still at that young age when I want to try everything,” Williams said.There seems to be no end in sight for Williams’ budding college career. With the soccer season coming to an end, she will inevitably find time to continue tackling venture after venture because, as she herself said, all of those things in her life are too important to give up at a time when she has the opportunity to do everything she loves.”I don’t want to let any of it go, especially now,” Williams said.
Williams keeps her feet moving year-round
Written By Chelsey Engel
June 29, 2016
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